Health
From The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2014
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Having already drastically reduced mortality rates and increased life expectancy by tackling the problem of communicable diseases and instituting nationwide universal health services, the Sultanate is now shifting its efforts towards combating non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Although Brunei Darussalam’s substantial hydrocarbons exports and relatively small population have so far enabled the government to provide high-quality care to all Bruneians, the existing system is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term due to rapid increases in health care costs and the finite nature of the country’s resources. In the long term the expansion of the private sector could help to shape the future evolution of the health sector as a whole.

This chapter contains an interview with Dr Kenneth Y Y Kok, Medical Director, Brunei Cancer Centre.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Maintaining high-quality universal care while expanding the role of the private sector
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Long a priority of Brunei Darussalam’s government, the domestic health care system continues to rank among the best in the region even as it shifts its priorities in response to a change in the health issues facing the local population. Having already tackled the problem of communicable diseases while instituting nationwide universal health services, which have drastically reduced mortality rates and increased life expectancy, the Sultanate is now shifting its efforts towards combating non-communicable…

Analysis

Non-communicable diseases are on the rise
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Although Brunei Darussalam's ongoing commitment to providing its citizens with high-quality universal health care has produced a robust public health care network, non-communicable diseases still pose a significant threat to the population. Cancer is far and away the country's primary cause of mortality, with 295 deaths recorded in 2013, according to the Department of Economic Planning and Development. This is up from 256 deaths in 2011 and 280 in 2012. Noncommunicable diseases also round out the…

Interview

OBG talks to Dr Kenneth Y Y Kok, Medical Director, Brunei Cancer Centre
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Interview: Dr Kenneth Y Y Kok How can Brunei Darussalam cope with the rising cost of health care provision while maintaining a high quality of service? KEENNETH Y Y KOK: The cost of health care is indeed increasing in most parts of the world. However, if you look at the provision of cancer treatment in Brunei Darussalam, the nation currently does not have radiotherapy services available. This means that a Bruneian citizen will need to be sent overseas for this treatment, most frequently to Singapore…